Albufeira Entertainment

Albufeiras entertainment is focused on the so-called strip, which features many bars, clubs and restaurants. For those who want to party, there are plenty of clubs pumping out music. The area also has a vast array of restaurants, and those who want to enjoy quiet evenings with excellent local seafood will have no problems finding somewhere suitable. The town also has some good shopping, with local markets, souvenir shops and shopping centres.

Eating out

There is a good range of eateries in Albufeira, particularly along the strip, where you can get everything from an English breakfast to Indian restaurants, Chinese restaurants and anything else you want. El Rancho is in the middle of the strip and has tables outside and serves great Portuguese steaks, good local wines and has a reputation for excellent desserts. Anabelles is well located on the strip and offers good home-cooked English pub grub, such as homemade pies and cod and chips; dont get there too late though, as the pies are often sold out! For lovers of Italian food, Amicis (close to the Old Town) comes well recommended and has some good seafood and pasta dishes. Surprisingly, Albufeira has a few good Indian restaurants, with The Minar Indian Restaurant in the Old Town ranking as one of the best. The food here is freshly prepared and sitting outside on the terrace is very pleasant. The best thing to do in Albufeira is to simply take an evening stroll to look at the different restaurants until you find one that suits you.

Local cuisine

Albufeira is a traditional fishing town, so most of the local specialities are focused on seafood. The most traditional local fish here tend to be bass, flounder, sardines, prawns and lobster, and you can be sure that it will be fresh. Caldeirada is something of a delicacy here, a delicious fish stew with potatoes, peppers and parsley, and it is served in a clay pot. Likewise, the steamed clams, cuttlefish and octopus salad are especially good. Os Azeiteros, near to Fishermans Beach, has a reputation for having some of the best seafood in the area and is always busy. Another local favourite is peri-peri chicken, spicy barbecued chicken, best eaten with fries and a view of the sea. Some restaurants make it more spicy than others, so its always worth asking for it to be cooked according to your taste buds.

Theatre and music

Albufeira has a small theatre and music scene. The Atrium restaurant is situated in the Old Albufeira Theatre and not only is the food excellent, but three times a week, traditional Portuguese folk music and dancing is performed here.

In the summer, there are a few music and traditional festivals including Feira de Nossa Senhora da Guia, the most famous festival, which culminates in an impressive fireworks display. A lot of the entertainment here is focused on the many bars and clubs along the strip, with many different styles of music being pumped out. There are also a number of karaoke bars, where the music is not usually of high quality, but is entertaining all the same. Matts bar usually has live music, often cover bands, and also attracts some well known DJs from the UK.

During the summer, there are bull fights in the Albufeira Arena; not for everyone, but certainly a unique spectacle.

Shopping

Albufeira is one of the busiest shopping areas in the Algarve, with a good mix of small shopping boutiques and large department stores and malls. The biggest shopping areas are Praa Duarte de Pacheco and rua do 5 de Outubro.

The Algarve is known for its pottery and fine ceramics, and Infante Dom Henrique House has a wide range of pottery and terracotta from around Portugal. The Algarve is also known for azulelejos, hand-painted tiles that were used both for decoration and to protect the buildings against the sea air. There are many beautiful designs to be found.

Twice a month in Albufeira there are gypsy markets, where you can browse a huge range of goods of varying quality. There are certainly some good handicrafts to be found, particularly wicker and ceramics. The markets also sell household goods and other things that are not of particular interest to tourists, but there is usually a bustling atmosphere here and you can find some good products. There is a smaller local market near the bullring.

The Modelo Shopping Centre is one of the largest of the shopping malls, with a huge range of products on offer here. Also, look out for wooden carvings and woven baskets, which are widely sold in the small souvenir kiosks and make excellent gifts.